Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-07-20

he had sold more hats and b0nnets to labor
ing men for their wives and daughters, thai
before In the history of his business. Con
tractors say their men do better work, ant
on Saturday evenings, when they receiv
tnelr weeks wages, spend the same TO
flour, hams, dry goods, or other necessar.
things for their families. Thus they are il
better spirits, have more hope, and not in
clined to strike and growl about highe
wages.
Attendance upon the public schools hal
increased. The Superintendent of Public
instruction said in his report to the Boart
OF Education, made Jan. 1, 1887:
sDuring the past year it has become a
SUBJECT OF remark by teachers in the schools
and by visitors, that the children were more
tidy, were better dressed, were better shod,
and presented neater appearance than ev.
er before. Less trouble has been expe-
rienced in having parents purchase books
| required by the rules, fewer children have
been withdrawn to aid in supporting the
family, the higher classes in the grammar
schools have been fuller, and more children
/! have been promoted to the high schools,
both male and female, than ever before in
the history Of the schools. All these indi-
cations point to the increased prosperity of
the city, and to the growing interest in the
cause of education on the part of the peo-
| ple.'' ~
There has been a marked increase in at
tendance upon the Sunday schools of the
city. This is especially noticeable among
the suburban churches. Many children have
started to the Sunday schools who were not
able to attend for want of proper clothing.
Attendance upon the different churches is
far better. From ], 500 to.2, 900 people have
Joined the various churches of the city dur
ing the year.
The determination on the part of the peo-
pie to prohibit the liquor traffic has stimu-
lated disposition to do away with other
evils. The laws against gambling are rig
idly enforced. A considerable stock of
gamblers tools gathered together by the
police for several years past was recently
used for the purpose ofmaking large bon
fire on one of the unoccupied squares of the
city. The City Council has refused longer
to grant license to bucket shops, thus put
ting the seal of it's condemnation upon the
trade in futures of all kinds.
All these reforms have had decided ten
ency to diminish crime. Two weeks were
necessary formerly to get through with the
criminal docket. During the present year
it was closed out in two days. The chain
gang is almost left with nothing but the
chains and balls. The gang part would not
be large enough to work the public roads
of the county were it not augmented by
fresh supplies from the surrounding coun-
ties. The City Government is in the hands
of our best citizens.
The majority in this county in favor of
Prohibition was only 235. Such change
has taken place in public sentiment, howev-
er, that now there is hardly respectable
anti-P Prohibitionist in the city who favors a
return to bar-rooms. There are some who
would prefer high license, or it's sale by the
gallon, but it is remarkable fact that there
is no disposition to have the saloon opened
again. The bar-room has gone from Attain
ia forever, and the people with remarkable
unanimity say amen There is very little
drinking in the city. There has been 40
per cent. falling off in the number of ar
rests, Notwithstanding there has been rig
id Interpretation of the law under which ar
rests are made. Formerly if a man was So
Der enough to walk home he was not mo-
Tested. Now if there is the slightest varia-
ton from that state in which the centre of
gravity falls in line inside the base, the
party is made to answer :for such varia-
tion at the station house.
Our experience has demonstrated to us
beyond a doubt that a city of 10000 in
habitants can get along and advance at a
solid and constant rate without the liquor
traffic